Ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly

ABSTRACT

An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon includes a pair of ribbon carriers each of which is drivingly connected to one of a pair of coaxially mounted, selectively rotatable drive spindles. Upon engagement of a clutch with one of the drive spindles, a driving mechanism rotates the one drive spindle, and the ink ribbon is wound onto the ribbon carrier that is connected to the one drive spindle. Once the ink ribbon is completely unwound from the other drive carrier, the clutch is automatically disengaged from the one drive spindle and engages the other drive spindle so that the drive mechanism rotates the other drive spindle, and the ink ribbon is wound onto the other drive carrier.

5/i965 Pensanecchiu ct 12/1967 Nesin et a].

United States Patent 72 Inventor Paul O. Gotsehewski Glenview, [IL 780,512

2/1966 Anderson.........

21 Appl. No. 221 Filed Dec. 2,1968

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onto the other drive carrier.

umm-zn STATES PATENTS 11/1953 Brist O rm 2 5 W PATENTEDNHV 2 3, 621 ,969

sum 1 BF 2 INK RIBBON FEEDING AND REVERSING ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the art of record and ink ribbon feeding assemblies.

SUMMARY .OF THE INVENTION The invention includes a novel ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly, a record-engageable record feeding member, and a drive train for driving the feeding member to feed the record in either forward or reverse directions and in so doing applying drive force to the ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly in only one direction. Both the ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly and the drive train are relatively simple and compact. The assembly provides a novel arrangement wherein the ink ribbon spools and their drive spindles, a clutching device, a control member, a driven gear connected to the control device, and sensing levers are mounted for rotation about the same axis. The drive train includes a reversible, electric, stepping motor which provides the drive energy, a shaftdriven by the motor, and a one-way clutch connecting the drive shaft and the ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly.

To facilitate replacement of a spent ink ribbon with a new ink ribbon, there is provided a novel arrangement of a flexible connector secured at one end to the hub of one ribbon spool and having a detachable fastener at its other end to which an ink ribbon is detachably connectable.

A guide, over which a record tape is drawn by the tape feeding device, is provided with a plurality of lands having substantially flat, smooth tape-engaging surfaces.

Other features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing punch incorporating a novel drive train and ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the drive train shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view in a plane through line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly of FIG. 1, showing in particular the manner in which one end of the ink ribbon is connected to one of the ribbon spools; and

FIG. I0 is a sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a printing punch generally indicated at which includes a punch assembly generally indicated at 21, the major components of which are disposed below guide plate 22. The punch assembly 21 includes a die block 23. Punches (not shown) cooperate with bores 24 in the die block 23 to perforate the record medium or record R, in this instance a tape, with successive code perforations C corresponding to successive received signals. Feed holes F are formed by a punch (not shown) cooperating with a bore 25 in the die block 23. A chad tube 26, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity, is used to conduct the chad formed during the punching operation away from the punch assembly 2l. A printing mechanism generally indicated at 27 includes a pivotally mounted print hammer 28 cooperable with a rotating typewheel 29 at a printing zone to print a symbol corresponding to the received signal on the record R between the feed holes F. An ink ribbon 30 is fed between the record R and the print face 28 of the print hammer 28 by means of an ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly generally indicated at 31.

The record R, wound onto a supply reel or large spool (not shown), is drawn over a guide plate or guide 32 to the printing zone between the typewheel 29 and the ink ribbon 30 by means of a feed member or device 33, specifically a feed wheel. The feed member 33 is driven stepwise to advance the record R stepwise; after the record R has been stepped, code holes C and feed holes F can be punched and a symbol can be printed between adjacent feed holes F; thereafter, the record R is stepped again, the code holes C and feed holes F can be punched and a symbol can be printed between adjacent feed holes F; and so on. A pivotally mounted spring-urged guide 34 is shown to overlie the guide plate 22 and to cooperate with the record R on both sides of the feed pins 33' to maintain the record R in feeding cooperation with the feed pins 33'. A guide 35 is shown to have a pair of spaced apart guide portions 36 and 37 spaced a short distance above the upper surface of the guide plate 22 and serves to guide the record R beyond the zone where the feeding member 33 and the guide 34 are located. A frame 38 is shown to mount the punch assembly 21, the printing mechanism 27, the guide 22, and the ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly 31.

The assembly 31 is used to feed the ink ribbon 30 first in one direction and then to automatically reverse the direction of feed of the ribbon 30. When a drive train 102 causes feed member 33 to feed the record R in the forward direction, rotational movement is applied to shaft 39 in one direction, but one-way clutches and prevent rotational movement from being applied to the shaft 39 in the reverse direction when the drive train 102 causes the feed member 33 to feed the record R in the reverse direction. The assembly 31 mounts ink ribbon carriers in the form of ink ribbon spools 40 and 41. The ink ribbon 30 is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9 to be almost completely wound onto the ribbon spool 40 and to be completely unwound from the ribbon spool 41. The ink ribbon 30 has an eyelet 30 secured to its one marginal end and an eyelet 30" secured to its other marginal end. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 9, a flexible connector 42 is secured at its one end to hub 43 of the ribbon spool 41. A fastener 44 is secured to the other end of the flexible connector 42. The fastener 44 is shown to take the form of a generally C-shaped member having a bright 45, and a pair of arms 46 and 47. The end portion 42 of the flexible connector 42 is looped about the arm 47. An eyelet 48 through the end portion 42' prevents the fastener 44 from becoming detached from the flexible connector 42. It is conventional to provide a looped end such as indicated at 49 at the end of an ink ribbon 30. The loop 49 can receive arm 46 of the fastener 44.

Guide rollers 50, 51 and 52 rotatably mounted on respective pins 53, 54 and 55 secured to the frame 38 are disposed in the same plane as the ribbon spool 40. Guide rollers 56 and 57, mounted by respective pins 54 and 55, are disposed in the same plane as the ribbon spool 41. A pivotally mounted mounting member 58 is mounted on a pin 60 secured to the frame 38. A spiral spring 61 received by the pin 60 is anchored to the frame 38 and to pin 62. The spring 61 tends to urge the mounting member 58 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 into abutment with guide 32. The member 58 carries a pin 63. Guide rollers 64, 65 and 66 are rotatably mounted by pins 60, 62 and 63. The member 58 has a pair of guides 58' and 58" below which upper and lower passes of the ribbon 30 can move. Thus, printing can occur when the print hammer 28 presses the ribbon 30 against the record medium R which in turn is pressed against the rotating typewheel 29 at the proper instant, thereby effecting impact printing of the selected symbol on the record medium R. If desired, the upper pass of the ribbon 30 can be caused to pass above the guides 58' and 58" to cause the upper pass of the ribbon 30 to move behind the print hammer 28 against rear edge 67 of the print hammer 28. When replacing the ribbon 30 with a new ribbon it is helpful to pivot the mounting member 58 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 3, the ribbon spool is received by a drive spindle 68, and the ribbon spool 41 is received by a drive spindle 69. A connector having a pair of drive lugs 71 is press fitted onto the drive spindle 68. The drive lugs 71 fit into mating recesses 71' in the ribbon spool 40. A keeper 72 serves, in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to keep the ribbon spool 40 in place on the drive spindle 68 until it is ready to be removed. A spring 72' abuts the connector 70 and the end of drive spindle 69 and prevents the spindle 69 and spool 41 from shifting relative to the drive spindle 68. A screw 73 clamps one end of the flexible connector 42 to the hub 43 of the ribbon spool 41 and serves in addition to clamp the hub 43 to the spindle 69. The drive spindle 68 is received coaxially within the drive spindle 69. Adequate clearance existing between these two spindles 68 and 69 prevents rotational movement which is imparted to one spindle from affecting the other spindle. A mounting member 74 is press fitted into a bore 75 of the frame 38. The mounting member 74 receives spaced-apart ball bearings 76 and 77 which are spaced apart by a spacer 78. The ball bearings 76 and 77 rotatably mount the drive spindle 68. The drive spindle 69 is rotatably received in a bearing sleeve or bearing 79 which is press fitted into a bore 80 in the frame 38. Fixedly joined to the spindle 68 is a clutch member 81 having a plurality of apertures 82, as best shown in FIG. 5. Diametrically opposite each aperture 82 in clutch member 81 is another aperture 82. An annular member 83 having a plurality of spaced apart apertures 84 is integrally joined with the drive spindle 69. The apertures 84 are equal in number to and are disposed in the same arrangement as the apertures 82 in clutch member 81.

The mounted member 74 is provided with two axially spaced apart rows of circumferentially arranged recesses 85 which receive balls 86. The outer surfaces of the bearing 76 and a retainer sleeve 87 and the inner surface of a control member 90 hold the balls 86 in place. The balls 86 mount the control member 90 for movement in both axial and circumferential directions. The control member 90 is received about the mounting member 74. Inner surface or bore 91 of the control member 90 makes rolling contact with the balls 86 so that a minimum offorce is required to shift the control member 90. A clutch device 92 is received by the control member 90. The clutch device 92 includes a pair of plates or disks 93 and 94. The plate 93 has diametrically opposed pins 95 alignable with two apertures 84, and the plate 94 two diametrically opposed pins 96 alignable with two apertures 82. The coupling device 92 also includes a coil compression spring 97 which tends to urge the plates or disks 93 and 94 apart. The spring 97 permits the control member 90 to be shifted even though the pins 95 are not in alignment with apertures 84, or even though the pins 96 are not in alignment with apertures 82. Assuming the control member 90 has been shifted and the pins 95 and 96 are not in alignment with their respective appertures 84 and 82, when the control member 90 is driven by the gear 112, the pins will move into alignment and mate with the respective apertures 84 and 82. The control member 90 includes diametrically opposed slots 98 and 99 which receive lugs 93 and 94 of disks 93 and 94. The lugs 93' and 94, which are confined in the slots 98 and 99, enable the disks 93 and 94 to move axially relative to the spindles 68 and 69 and the control member 90 but prevent the disks 93 and 94 from rotating relative to the control member 90. The spring 97 normally urges the disk 93 against a retainer ring 100 which is received in an internal groove 101 in the control member 90. With the clutching device 92 in the position shown in FIG. 3, pins 96 extend into apertures 82 in the clutch member 81, thereby locking the disk 94 and the clutch member 81 against relative rotation. If the control member 90 is shifted so that the pins 96 are shifted out of apertures 82 and the pins 95 are shifted into apertures 84. annular member 83 and the disk 93 will be locked against relative rotation. When the gear 112 drives the control member 90. the spindle 69 will in turn be driven. Whenever the spindle 69 is driven the ink ribbon 30 is wound onto the spool 41.

The record feed member 33 and the ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly 31 are driven by a drive train generally indicated at 102, a fragmentary portion of which is depicted in FIG. 2. The drive train 102 includes a reversible, electric, stepping motor 103 (FIG. 1), a drive shaft 104 selectively driven in one rotational direction and in the opposite rotational direction by the stepping motor 103, a one-way clutch 105 received about the shaft 104, a gear 106 secured to the shaft 104, a smaller gear 107 in meshing engagement with the gear 106, and a shaft 108 to which the gear 107 and the record feed member 33 are secured. The drive train 102 also includes a toothed sprocket 109 secured to the output side of the oneway clutch 105, a toothed sprocket 110 secured to the shaft 39, a toothed belt 109, a gear 111 secured to the shaft 39, and a gear 112 in meshing engagement with the gear 111. The gear 111 is wide enough so that meshing engagement with the gears 111 and 112 is assured in each of the two positions to which the control member 90 can be shifted. The shaft 39 is journaled in a bearing 113 received in a bore 114 of the frame 38 and by a one-way clutch 115 received in a bore 116 in the frame 38. The one-way clutch 115 serves both as a bearing and as an additional means to prevent any reverse rotational motion from being imparted to the shaft 39. The clutches 105 and 115 are identical in construction but reversed in relative position. Thus, when the drive train 102 drives the feed member 33 in the forward direction the clutch 105 is engaged to drive the control member 90 and the clutch 115 is disengaged, but when the drive train drives the member 33 in the reverse direction the clutch 105 is disengaged and the clutch 115 is engaged to prevent drive motion from being imparted to the control member 90.

The outer surface of the control member 90 is provided with an annular groove 117. A shift lever generally indicated at 118 is pivotally mounted by a pin 119 received by the frame 38. The shift lever 118 has a pair of arms 120 and 121. Arms 120 and 121 have respective round projections or lugs 122 and 123 which are received in the annular groove 117. The arm 121 of the shift lever 118 is provided with an extension 124 to which a pin 125 is secured. The shift lever 118 is normally biased counterclockwise by a spring 126 connected to the extension 124 and to the frame 38. Therefore, the shift lever 118 is normally drawn into the position shown in FIG. 1 by the spring 126. A lever 127 pivotally mounted to the frame 38 by a pin 128 is normally urged clockwise (FIG. 1) by a spring 129 which connects one end of the lever 127 and a post 130. The lever 127 has a stop shoulder 131. When a rotary solenoid 132 is energized rotational counterclockwise movement (FIG. 1) is imparted to a drive lever on arm 133. The drive lever 133 is adjustably secured to the rotary solenoid 132 by screw and slot connections indicated at 134. The drive lever 133 has a drive end 135. When the rotary solenoid 132 is energized the drive lever 133 is caused to pivot counterclockwise, thereby driving the pin 125 together with the shift lever 118 clockwise about the pin 119. Such clockwise pivoting of the shift lever 118 causes the lugs 122 and 123 to drive the control member 90 to the right (FIGS. 1 and 3), thereby shifting the clutching device 92. Such shifting of the clutching device 92 causes the pins 96 to leave apertures 82 and causes the pins 95 to enter aperture 84, provided they are aligned, thereby causing the spindle 69 and the ribbon spool 41 to be driven, instead of the spindle 68 and the ribbon spool 40. When the drive lever 133 drives the pin 125 far enough so that the pin 125 loses contact with the surface 127' of the lever 127, the spring 129 will pivot the lever 127 clockwise. Such clockwise pivoting of the lever 127 causes latching of the lever 118 and the control member 90 in the position to which they were shifted when the rotary solenoid 132 was energized. The pin 125 and stop shoulder 131 of the lever 127 constitute a latch generally indicated at 136.

Reversal of the direction of feeding of the ink ribbon 30 is under the control of sensing levers 137 and 138. The sensing levers 137 and 138 are each pivotally mounted by a mounting member 74 and the bearing sleeve 79 at spaced-apart locations. It is thus apparent that the sensing levers 137 and 138 pivot about the same axis as is common to the drive spindles 68 and 69, the control member 90, and the clutching device 92. Keepers 139 and 140 prevent the sensing levers 137 and 138 from shifting axially. A lever 141 is pivotally mounted by the mounting member 74 and is connected at one end to the lever 137 by a spring 142. With reference to FIG. 1, the ribbon 30 is stepped in a direction indicated by arrow 30a; the eyelet 30 is about to contact slotted pin 143 forming part of the sensing lever 137. The slot in the pin 143 is wide enough so that the ribbon 30 can pass freely through it but narrow enough to prevent the eyelet 30 from passing through it. When the eyelet 30' exerts force on the pin 143, the sensing lever 137 is pivoted clockwise (FIG. 1), so that the lever 141 is urged by the spring 142 to pivot clockwise. Clockwise pivoting of the lever 141 will close switch 144 to complete a circuit to the rotary solenoid 132 via conductors 144' When the solenoid 132 is energized, the lever 118, the control member 90, and the clutching device 92 are shifted, energy is stored in the spring 126, and the latch 136 is latched. It is apparent that shifting of the clutching device 92 out of the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and into its other position will cause the drive spindle 69 and the ribbon spool 41 to rotate, thereby causing the ribbon 30 to move in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 30a. The ribbon 30 also passes freely through a slotted pin 145 which forms part of the sensing lever 138. When the eyelet 30" starts contacting the pin 145, the eyelet 30" starts driving the lever 138 clockwise (FIG. 1). When the eyelet 30" drives the sensing lever 138 clockwise (FIG. 1) the latch 136 is tripped. Tripping of the latch 136 is effected by means of a rigid rod 146 pivotally connected at one end to the lever 138 and at its other end to a post 147 which is secured to the lever 127. When the sensing lever 138 pivots clockwise, the rod'146 acting on the post 147 drives the lever 127 counterclockwise, thereby causing the stop shoulder 131 to move clear of the pin 125 and enabling the spring 126 to return the shift lever 118 and control member 90 to the positions shown in FIG. 1. Return of the shift lever 118 to the position shown in FIG. 1 effects shifting of the control member 90 and the clutching device 92 back to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Reversal of the direction of ribbon feed can continue until the user is ready to replace the spent ribbon 30 with a new ribbon 30.

The ink ribbon 30 is guided in a sinuous path through the printing zone. To facilitate replacement of a worn ribbon 30 with a new ribbon 30, the flexible connector 42 is made long enough so it can be advanced to the position shown by phantom lines pl in FIG. 9. In replacing a worn ink ribbon 30, the ink ribbon 30 is disconnected from the slotted pin 143. Then, the worn ink ribbon 30 either can be manually wound onto the spool 40 or it can be driven onto the spool by stepping the drive motor 103 until the fastener 44 has been advanced to the position shown by phantom lines p1 in FIG. 9. Then, the free end of the worn ribbon 30 is disconnected from the fastener 44 and the spool 40 is removed from its spindle 68 and discarded together with the worn ink ribbon 30. A new spool, like the spool 40, with a new ink ribbon 30 is now positioned on the spindle 68 and the free end of the new ink ribbon 30 is connected to the fastener 44. Thereupon, the assembly 31 is manually reversed so that the flexible connector 42 and the new ink ribbon 30 travel in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow 30a (FIG. 1) as the motor 103 is stepped. When the flexible connector 42 and the'new ribbon 30 have been advanced to a position in which the eyelet 30 is beyond the sensing pin 143 (to the left of the sensing pin 143 as viewed in FIG. 9) the new ink ribbon is manually inserted into the slotted pin 143. The eyelet 30 is now in a position, to the left of the sensing pin 143 as shown in FIG. 9, in which it can control the sensing lever 137 during automatic operation of the assembly 31. Thus, both unthreading of the worn ink ribbon 30 and threading of the new ink ribbon 30 are accomplished by advancing the flexible connector 42 and the associated ink ribbon 30 over the sinuous path.

FIG. 10 shows a section of the guide or guide plate 32. The guide 32 is embossed by indenting its underside as indicated at 32", thereby forming a plurality of staggered projections which are ground flat and are thereafter polished to form smooth lands 32' which guide the record tape R. These staggered rows have four, three, four, three, and so on, lands 32 in each row. These lands 32' greatly reduce the frictional forces between the record tape R and the guide 32 as the record tape R is drawn off the supply reel (not shown) under tension by the feed member 33, as compared with a guide having an uninterrupted guide surface (not shown). By way of example not limitation, the various approximate dimensions of the guide 32, which is composed of steel, are as follows: the radium of curvature of the guide 32 is 4 inches, the thickness not including the lands 32' is one-sixteenth inch and its width is 1 7/32 inch, the lands 32' are one sixty-fourth inch high and have a diameter of three thirty-seconds inch, the lands 32' in each row are on 9/32-inch centers, the distance from the center of one row to the center of the next adjacent row is one-fourth inch.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon, comprising: a first ribbon carrier, a first drive spindle for driving said first ribbon carrier, a second ribbon carrier, a second drive spindle for driving said second ribbon carrier, drive means, clutching means for drivingly connecting said drive means either with said first drive spindle to wind said ink ribbon onto said first ribbon carrier or with said second drive spindle to wind said ink ribbon onto said second ribbon carrier, said clutching means including (a) a shiftable clutching device selectively shiftable between a first position in driving engagement with said first drive spindle and a second position in driving engagement with said second drive spindle, (b) a control member actuable to shift said clutching device to either of its first and second positions, said control member drivingly connected to said drive means, (c) means for rotatably and shiftably mounting said control member, and (d) a drive connection between said control member and said clutching device, and sensing means responsive to the position of said ribbon for shifting said control member.

2. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a first sensing lever responsive to an eyelet at one marginal end of the ink ribbon, a second sensing lever responsive to an eyelet at the other marginal end of the ink ribbon, a switch actuatable by said first sensing lever, electromechanical means responsive to actuation of said switch for shifting said control member to effect shifting of said clutching device from its first position to its second position, latch means for holding said control member in its second position, tripping means responsive to said second sensing lever for tripping said latch means, and a return means for shifting said control member and hence shifting said clutching device from its second position to its first position when said latch is tripped.

3. An ink ribbon feed and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a driving gear and a driven gear meshing with said driving gear, said driven gear being secured to and shiftable together with said control member, said gears being sufficiently wide to maintain driving engagement therebetween when said control member and said driven gear are shifted.

4. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutching means includes pin means selectively locking said clutching device either to said first drive spindle or to said second drive spindle.

5. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutching device includes first and second disks, pin means carried by each of said first and second disks, a first member joined to said first spindle and having first apertures with which said pin means of said first disk is alignable and engageable when said clutching device is in its first position, a second member joined to said second spindle and having second apertures with which said pin means of said second disk is alignable and engageable when said clutching device is in its second position, and urging means between said disks tending to urge said disks apart, said urging means sewing to enable said clutching device to be shifted to either of said first or second positions before the respective pin means are aligned with their respective first or second apertures.

6. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon, comprising: a first ribbon carrier, a first drive spindle rotatable about an axis for driving said first ribbon carrier, a second ribbon carrier, a second drive spindle coaxially received by said first drive spindle for driving said second ribbon carrier, drive means, means for rotatably mounting said first and second drive spindles, and selective connecting means for selectively connecting said drive means with either said first drive spindle or said second drive spindle, said selective connecting means including clutch means rotatable about said axis, power means operable for shifting said clutch means to change the drive from one to the other of said first and second drive spindles, and control means responsive to said ink ribbon for initiating operation of said power means.

7. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said control means for initiating operation of said power means includes a first sensing lever pivotally mounted about said axis and responsive to an eyelet at one marginal end of said ink ribbon, and a second sensing lever pivotally mounted about said axis and responsive to an eyelet at the other marginal end of said ink ribbon.

8. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said selective connecting means includes a shiftable control member and a pivotally mounted shift lever operated by said power means.

9. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said first sensing means is responsive to an eyelet at one marginal end of said ink ribbon for operating said electromechanical device, and said second sensing means is responsive to an eyelet at the other marginal end of the ink ribbon for releasing said latch means.

10. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon comprising: a first ribbon carrier, a second ribbon carrier, drive means, selective connecting means drivingly connected to said drive means and operable to normal and operative states, said selective connecting means connecting said drive means to said first ribbon carrier whenever said selective connecting means is in its normal state and connecting said drive means to said second ribbon carrier whenever said selective connecting means is in its operative state, a first sensing means for sensing when said ink ribbon has been wound almost completely onto said second ribbon carrier, and power means responsive to said first sensing means for operating said selective connecting means, said power means including an electromechanical device responsive to said first sensing means to operate said selective connecting means to said operative state, a spring means connected to said selective connecting means, a latching means to maintain said selective connecting means in its operative state, and a second sensing means for sensing when said ink ribbon has been wound almost completely onto said first ribbon carrier, said second sensing means releasing said latch means so that said spring means returns said selective connecting means to its normal state. 

1. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon, comprising: a first ribbon carrier, a first drive spindle for driving said first ribbon carrier, a second ribbon carrier, a second drive spindle for driving said second ribbon carrier, drive means, clutching means for drivingly connecting said drive means either with said first drive spindle to wind said ink ribbon onto said first ribbon carrier or with said second drive spindle to wind said ink ribbon onto said second ribbon carrier, said clutching means including (a) a shiftable clutching device selectively shiftable between a first position in driving engagement with said first drive spindle and a second position in driving engagement with said second drive spindle, (b) a control member actuable to shift said clutching device to either of its first and second positions, said control member drivingly connected to said drive means, (c) means for rotably and shiftably mounting said control member, and (d) a drive connection between said control member and said clutching device, and sensing means responsive to the position of said ribbon for shifting said control member.
 2. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a first sensing lever responsive to an eyelet at one marginal end of the ink ribbon, a second sensing lever responsive to an eyelet at the other marginal end of the ink ribbon, a switch actuatable by said first sensing lever, electromechanical means responsive to actuation of said switch for shifting said control member to effect shifting of said clutching device from its first position to its second position, latch means for holding said control member in its second position, tripping means responsive to said second sensing lever for tripping said latch means, and a return means for shifting said control member and hence shifting said clutching device from its second position to its first position when said latch is tripped.
 3. An ink ribbon feed and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a driving gear and a driven gear meshing with said driving gear, said driven gear being secured to and shiftable together with said control member, said gears being sufficiently wide to maintain driving engagement therebetween when said control member and said driven gear are shifted.
 4. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutching means includes pin means selectively locking said clutching device either to said first drive spindle or to said second drive spindle.
 5. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutching device includes first and second disks, pin means carried by each of said first and second disks, a first member joined to said first spindle and having first apertures with which said pin means of said first disk is alignable and engageable when said clutching device is in its first position, a second member joined to said second spindle and having second apertures with which said pin means of said second disk is alignable and engageable when said clutching device is in its second position, and urging means between said disks tending to urge said disks apart, said urging means serving to enable said clutching device to be shifted to either of said first or second positions before the respective pin means are aligned with their respective first or second apertures.
 6. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon, comprising: a first ribbon carrier, a first drive spindle rotatable about an axis for driving said first ribbon carrier, a second ribbon carrier, a second drive spindle coaxially received by said first drive spindle for driving said second ribbon carrier, drive means, means for rotatably mounting said first and Second drive spindles, and selective connecting means for selectively connecting said drive means with either said first drive spindle or said second drive spindle, said selective connecting means including clutch means rotatable about said axis, power means operable for shifting said clutch means to change the drive from one to the other of said first and second drive spindles, and control means responsive to said ink ribbon for initiating operation of said power means.
 7. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said control means for initiating operation of said power means includes a first sensing lever pivotally mounted about said axis and responsive to an eyelet at one marginal end of said ink ribbon, and a second sensing lever pivotally mounted about said axis and responsive to an eyelet at the other marginal end of said ink ribbon.
 8. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said selective connecting means includes a shiftable control member and a pivotally mounted shift lever operated by said power means.
 9. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said first sensing means is responsive to an eyelet at one marginal end of said ink ribbon for operating said electromechanical device, and said second sensing means is responsive to an eyelet at the other marginal end of the ink ribbon for releasing said latch means.
 10. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for controlling the feeding of an ink ribbon comprising: a first ribbon carrier, a second ribbon carrier, drive means, selective connecting means drivingly connected to said drive means and operable to normal and operative states, said selective connecting means connecting said drive means to said first ribbon carrier whenever said selective connecting means is in its normal state and connecting said drive means to said second ribbon carrier whenever said selective connecting means is in its operative state, a first sensing means for sensing when said ink ribbon has been wound almost completely onto said second ribbon carrier, and power means responsive to said first sensing means for operating said selective connecting means, said power means including an electromechanical device responsive to said first sensing means to operate said selective connecting means to said operative state, a spring means connected to said selective connecting means, a latching means to maintain said selective connecting means in its operative state, and a second sensing means for sensing when said ink ribbon has been wound almost completely onto said first ribbon carrier, said second sensing means releasing said latch means so that said spring means returns said selective connecting means to its normal state. 